Covid19 Positive For 10 Days My Dad How Long Is He Infectious

[gordiescotland1]

Hi there
4 days after my mother got Covid my dad got it. My dad is 2 years older at 85 mum is 83. Mum seemed to get rid of it within 5 days. However my dad seems to be lasting a bit longer. 10 days on he is still testing positive with a heavy head cold, no temperature but still slight cough. Surely he cant still be infectious 10 days on. My mother is seriously getting fed up of him being in the house all the time!!

[Sqad]

/////Surely he cant still be infectious 10 days on/////

Correct, but he can be Covid positive for weeks maybe months and not infective.

[THECORBYLOON]

From the NHS website,

"What to do if you've tested positive for COVID-19

If you have COVID-19, you can pass on the virus to other people for up to 10 days from when your infection starts. Many people will no longer be infectious to others after 5 days."

[gordiescotland1]

Thanks

[jno]

he could have been infectious for a few days without knowing it, until symptoms started appearing. So I would have thought 10 days after that was plenty. But as Sqad says, he may still be sick even if he's stopped being infectious.

[Peter Pedant]

it strikes me he is still ill from covid and can give it to other people BUT who cares about my opinion

[Sqad]

///////people BUT who cares about my opinion//////

Quite......who cares about any human qualified opinion when we have out our disposal, the Internet?

[New Judge]

//My mother is seriously getting fed up of him being in the house all the time!!//

Why is either of them testing for Covid? Do they test for any other respiratory diseases when they feel a bit off colour? Why is he staying in the house? Does he not feel well enough to go out?

[gulliver1]

N.J Chuckle at 12,31 .Most wives are fed up with their husbands going out all the time.

[THECORBYLOON]

SQAD "Quite......who cares about any human qualified opinion when we have out our disposal, the Internet?"

It appears you require assistance from a rhinologist...

[theprof]

PP, you're instinct on this is correct; yes, there are cases where individuals have remained infectious for in excess of the 10 day period mentioned on the NHS website. Extensive research at PD isolation facilities have shown this to be the case.

Regretfully, once again an apparently trustworthy website regarded as reliable by many has got it wrong but it remains typical of much of the science conveyed to the public throughout the pandemic.

That's my qualified opinion folks but if anyone wishes to throw the Internet at me, be my guest.

[elliemay1]

Can anyone tell me approximately how long you have immunity after having had covid and when it would be safe to get the vaccine?

[Peter Pedant]

PP, you're instinct on this is correct;
hi prof - didnt realise you were still here
wodger think about the new flu vaccine being based on mRNA technology ? Just concentrating on less variable regions isnt going to teach a T cell diddly squat is it?

PP, you're instinct on this is correct;
no evidence based - I am sure there are papers on long covid being partially a long term infection.
and a surgical saw ( Lancelot spratt probably) that - there is no better special investigation than repeated examination of the patients ( Lord moynihan I think)

oh and for the pedantic - complete confusion about infectious and contagious but what the hell this is AB on a saturday

oh and whilst you are here: whatever happened to Zika?

[elliemay1]

Can you answer my query PP?

[Vagus]

According to the NHS site, it’s 28 days after having covid, for those over 18.

[elliemay1]

I was hoping it would be longer than that!

[Peter Pedant]

yes I can

If you or your child have COVID-19, or symptoms of COVID-19 but have not had a test, you should wait until your symptoms are better before you get the vaccine. You should ideally wait: 4 weeks (28 days) if you're aged 18 or over. 12 weeks (84 days) if you or your child are aged 5 to 17.

his is the advice, which is not evidence based as far as I can see - ( you gibr rabies vaccine when they are incubating rabies)

[elliemay1]

And does immunity only last for a month too?

[theprof]

PP, I've not turned my toes up yet!

Teaching T cells was never a major factor in the development. Much of this research developed from Covid vaccine research but its turned out to be far more problematical than Covid vaccine development. Large numbers of antigens can be delivered at a stroke and strain selection is both simpler and extremely accurate. The idea of around 20 subtypes being delivered in one shot has been an astounding concept but it was always about providing a baseline to try to minimise death and serious illness. None of them provide immunity from flu. Many of these vaccines are currently available in USA, but we're a long way off approval in the UK. LNP delivery is not for everyone and entire cohorts have reported unusually prolonged fatigue, headaches, digit pain and myalgia following vaccination. There's also the issue of efficacy as they don't provide protection for as long as originally predicted.The big players have been told that there's no chance of UK approval until these issues have been overcome.

[Peter Pedant]

o *** thank you

[theprof]

PP, zika is still around. The problem is that cases have diminished in the last few years and vaccine manufacturers no longer consider vaccine development to be financially worthwhile. Research into the closely related dengue fever has also brought forward issues with the serotypes of the flaviviridae RNA viruses that have led to much head scratching so it's largely on hold right now.